There's a Murder Afoot by Vicki Delany

Author:Vicki Delany
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: CROOKED LANE BOOKS

Chapter Twelve

We never did make it to the address of the dreadlocked woman who, Pippa had discovered, went by the name of Elsie Saunders.

Grant headed for a busier street to hail a cab. Once it arrived, I hobbled into it and we took Waterloo Bridge across the river.

“I need a shoe store,” I said to the cabby. “Any shoe store, but nothing too expensive. I just want a pair of trainers.”

“New boots, pet?” he said. Considering that when I’d gotten into the cab I’d been limping and carrying the right boot in my hand, he didn’t need to be Sherlock Holmes to figure that out. He winked at Grant in the rearview mirror. “Me wife likes to buy shoes she can’t walk in, too. They’ll do anything to please us, won’t they, mate?”

“And we love them for it,” Grant said. I refrained from slapping him because at that moment my phone—my own phone—rang. Pippa.

“What’s up?” I asked.

She didn’t bother with pleasantries. “Dad’s been arrested.”

“What? When?”

“Moments ago. Morrison came to the house and formally arrested him. He was allowed to call Mum, and she’s sent one of her partners down to the nick to represent him. She called me.”

“What station? We’re in a cab now.”

“There’s no point in you going there, Gemma. They won’t let you talk to him. I know Brian Cohen and he’s a darn good solicitor.”

“I can pace nervously up and down.”

“What’s happening?” Grant mouthed.

“That would not be helpful,” Pippa said. “Now Dad has officially been charged, I can do even less to help him, so it’s all up to you. Keep on with what you’re doing. How’s your day going?”

“We made initial contact at place one and are waiting developments. On the way to the second option now.”

She hung up without saying goodbye.

“What’s happened, Gemma?” Grant asked.

I nodded toward the cab driver. “No one has taken ill, but otherwise I received news of an unfortunate development.” I looked down, to draw Grant’s attention to my lap. I crossed one wrist over the other, as though in handcuffs. Grant’s eyes darkened and he nodded.

The cab pulled up to a nondescript shoe shop in a row of nondescript shops. “I’ve changed my mind,” I said. “No need for you to wait.” I handed the cabby money and we got out. I carried the leather boots.

I quickly found what I needed in a pair of cheap, but properly fitting, trainers. “I don’t need the box,” I said to the clerk. “I’ll wear them home, but I’d like a bag for these.”

“Those are super nice boots,” she said.

“Appearances can be deceiving,” I said. Jayne was much smaller than me, but Pippa’s feet were about the same size as mine and she was accustomed to wearing killer heels. I’d make her a gift of the boots. Before presenting her with the bill.

“What now?” Grant asked when we were once again standing on the sidewalk.

Before going inside the store, I’d told Grant what precious little I’d learned from Pippa.

“I need to reevaluate my plan in light of new developments,” I said.

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